Egypt’s FM, Arab ministers embark on foreign tour to end war in Gaza

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry is embarking on a tour of the capitals of several permanent members of the UN Security Council.

The foreign ministers of a committee set up during the recent Arab Islamic Extraordinary Summit will join him on the trip.

Ahmed Abu Zeid, spokesperson for Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Shoukry’s tour sought to advance the process of stopping the war in the Gaza Strip and to deal with the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in besieged Palestinian territory.

He said the foreign ministers would meet political leaders and key ministers.

The ministry said the tour would promote the need for an immediate ceasefire and ensure the supply of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

It highlighted the need to address the root causes of the crisis and establish an independent Palestinian state through a political process.

Meanwhile, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit this week met several Arab and foreign officials in Bahrain on the sidelines of the annual IISS Manama Dialogue security conference.

He discussed several matters with Bahrain Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al-Zayani, most notably the moves being made to stop the aggression against Gaza in light of the decisions of the Arab-Islamic summit held on Nov. 11, and the preparations for the next Arab summit, which Bahrain will host.

Aboul Gheit also met Lord Tariq Ahmad, the UK’s minister of state for the Middle East, to discuss the situation in Gaza.

He said the continuing war “was the result of the policies of some countries that were quick to give Israel a blank check to exercise revenge and that Israel exploited this license in a brutal way that became rejected by the entire world.”

Aboul Gheit also spoke to Josep Borrell, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy.

The secretary-general warned of the highly negative consequences of the spread of anger and hatred in the Middle East, especially in light of the biased positions of many Western countries and governments in supporting Israel in its “brutal, immoral and lawless aggression, which reflects a blatant pattern of double standards.”

He also briefed Borrell on the Arab approach to ending the conflict and working to find a permanent solution to the Palestinian issue in accordance with the vision of the two states.

Aboul Gheit highlighted the dangers of all forms of displacement, exile and deportation, which is a red line for Arab nations.

He also spoke to Armenia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan about the latest developments in Gaza and the dangers of continuing the war.